I think everyone has that one film they were shown in class that made them a little uncomfortable, and that film for me was my high school senior year Spanish class showing Como Agua Para Chocolate, or Like Water for Chocolate. It was such an explicitly erotic film that made seventeen-year-old me a little awkward, … Continue reading Like Water for Chocolate, by Laura Esquivel →

Now that Stacey Brown and her, ahem, friends have come back into my reading orbit after all these years, it seems only fitting to continue reading their story into the spooky season. Although, I suppose it's been spooky season here for a while, hasn't it? Anyway. Stacey only managed just in time to solve the … Continue reading White is for Magic (Blue is for Nightmares #2), by Laurie Faria Stolarz →

In case it wasn't obvious, I had a thing for witch stories even as a kid. Last year, I reviewed the nostalgic Magic in Manhattan series, which I read countless times growing up and still hold very close to me, despite the series' more apparent flaws. Although Bras and Broomsticks is my most nostalgic young … Continue reading Hex Education, by Emily Gould and Zareen Jaffery →

After Ella Enchanted captured my imagination so many years ago, not surprisingly, I was ready for other Gail Carson Levine stories to come my way. I read a few other stories of hers since then, but I haven't remembered any with such fondness as The Two Princesses of Bamarre. In part, I am fond of … Continue reading The Two Princesses of Bamarre, by Gail Carson Levine →

If you're tired of the witch books, I'm sure the craze will end soon, and we'll go back to the random book loving soon…though I make no guarantees. Anyway, onto the show. During the early stages of my current witch book phase, I was pursuing the romance shelf at my local Barnes & Noble, and … Continue reading Go Hex Yourself, by Jessica Clare →

And here we are: the one that started it all. The book that made me fall completely head over heels in love with reading. I enjoyed reading up to the time that I read Roald Dahl's classic Matilda, but this was the first time I can remember being so completely and utterly engrossed in the … Continue reading Matilda, by Roald Dahl →

Way back in high school, in between books about magical journeys and other worlds, I liked a fun mystery now and again. I don't remember when I first read Blue is for Nightmares, but I do remember the images of dark hallways, moonlit boarding school quads, and a student lying murdered inside an empty classroom. … Continue reading Blue is For Nightmares (Blue is for Nightmares #1), by Laurie Faria Stolarz →

Since we are covering yet another witch book, I am dubbing this time on the blog Summerween (I'm borrowing that name from Gravity Falls, just so everyone's aware). I don't need to waste too much time reiterating my enjoyment of witch stories, especially since this one belongs in the same cozy fun category as the … Continue reading The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, by Sangu Mandanna →

It’s inevitable that I have a fixation on something totally out of season every so often. In June 2021, I was struck with a Christmas/Nutcracker vibe, and this year, it appears that the vibe is witches, because there are a few more witchy, magical reads to come. When 19-year-old Vivienne Jones went through a breakup, … Continue reading The Ex Hex, by Erin Sterling →

I should have known that if this book had a blurb from the author of the Hush, Hush series, it would not be all that great. This book has been on my TBR list for what feels like years. I mean, a book about a young witch going to a magical school sounds about as … Continue reading Hex Hall, by Rachel Hawkins →